Fountain applicator



Aug- 19 1958 s. E. EDELsToNE E11-AL 2,847,691

FOUNTAIN APPLICATOR l Filed Aug. 4. 19554 i ff, i M

f5-gi; @w gif@ United States Patent FOUNTAIN APPLICATOR `Sigmund EnEdelstone and Wirt V. Dunlop, Chicago, lll.,

assignorsfto` Dupli-Color Products Company, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a-corporation of Illinois Application August 4, 1955, Serial No. 526,529

6 Claims. (Cl. 15--139) This invention' relates to fountain applicators or fountain brushes,and hasfparticular reference to such a device of a type having a retractable dispenser brush assembly or applicator unit slidably carried by and within an elongatediiuid container.

`Such devices normally provide a liquid-supply barrel having projecting from an end thereof anelongated' hollow nozzle which slidably carries the applicator unit. The

Anozzle of such a device is providedat its tip with an orifice through which extends theV applicator'brush and through which hows the liquid to be dispensed. Theapplic'ator unit normally carries an enlarged head adapted to'abut the interior of the nozzle `tip to sea`l`the orifice andto limit movement of the applicator unit outwardly of the nozzle, and there is provided inthenozzle a spring for rbearing against the applicator headto'urge the applicatorunit outwardly intoan extendedposition in which the applicator brush projects fromthe'nozzle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide'for `such a device new and improvedmeans for effecting a "filter of the contents of `the applicator.

In many applications of adevice' ofthe type indicated, it is particularly desirable toprovide for thorough mixing of the complete'contents ofthe applicator, as for example in a devicefor dispensing automobile touch-up .paint or i lacquer, wherein all of thelliqud dispensed "should match exactly'with a cer'tain color'of the automobile1 body. Accordingly, a further object of the present invention is to provide a newand improvetlconstruction permitting iniprovedinter-ow ofmaterial Vbetween thelbarrel and -the `nozzle chambers of suchanapplicator and improve the characteristics of the device with respect "to mixing of the contents thereof.

A still 'further object of the'present invention'is `the provision of new and improvedmeans for.g`uidi n"g"the 'applicatorunitfor its sliding movement in the nozzle.

A further object is'toprovideanirnprtiyed` means for effecting a better and more uniform distribution of the the lpresent invention will be readily l"apparent from `the following description of preferred embodiments thereof,

takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawingfin which: j g l Figure lis a sideelevation ofthe applicator and closure cap, the parts "being shown in closed position;

Figure`2 is a longitudinalcross sectional view'of such a Adevice according `to our invention, with parts in eleice vation and with parts broken away, the section being taken along the line II--II of Figure 5.

operatively outwardly of the nozzle;

Figure 4 is transverse cross section taken along the line lV--IV of Figure 2, the cap being omitted forclar'ity;

Figure` `5 is a transverse cross section taken along the line V`V of Figure 3;

"Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional view vof applicator according to a modified embodiment, and taken generally along the line VI-VI of Figure 7; and

Figure 7 is a transverse cross sectional view of, the embodiment shown in VFigure 6, the section being taken along "the line VII-VII of Figure l6.

As shown on the drawings:

The applicator or fountain brush 1l) includes a container, desirably in the form of an elongated barrel or body l2 having a hollow nozzle 14 projecting therefrom, a dispenser-brush assembly 16 carried for sliding movement in the nozzle and including a` dispenser or applicator su'ch as a brush 18 adapted to project from the nozzle, and a closure cap 20 adapted to be applied to the `bo'dy`12 to cover the nozzle 14 and dispenser brush assembly `ll6. The closure cap 20 illustrated is of a type which `provides for automatic brush-retraction by means yet to be described, but the cap could be of a non-brush-retractng'type.

The barrel or body .l2 is shown as having an elongated tubular shape,`and has a closed end wall 21 and 'a cylindrical side wall 21a terminating in an open end 22. The

body may be formed of any desired material, such as metal, plastic, glass, rubber, or the like.

The 'nozzle 14 illustrated is `preferably composed of molded, relatively hard plastic material such as Bakelite, hard rubber, or the like. It is of a generally cylindrical shape, having an enlarged diameter inner end portion V24 '.pressfittedinto the mouth 22 of the body 12. The nozzle `has`a stem 26projecting outwardly from the body 12,

endingin a smoothly rounded tip 28 in which there is provided an orifice 30 through which the liquid is adapted to be dispensed.

The dispenser brush assembly 16 is carried within the `hollow bore 32 of the nozzle i4. As shown, itincludes toward the forward, extended position illustrated in Figi ure "3. ln'that extended position the dispensing brush I8projects outwardly of the nozzle tip 23 through the orifice 3l), and the plunger head 36 seals against the tap'ered inside wall 42 of the nozzle tip 28 adjacent oriiice "'tosealthe orifice. The means provided for bottomingthe rearend of the spring dil is yet to be described; but it should Vbe here noted that the spring 40 provides a yieldable means which biases the brush assembly liS towardt'he forwardly extended position shown in Figure "3, but permits a retraction of the brush assembly 16 to a rearward, retracted position as shown in Figure 2. Such a 'retracted position of the dispenser brush assembly 16may be effected as shown in Figure 2 by the 'closure cap 2l) which carries a brush-retracting pin -In'eans M'which engages the head 36 to effect a brushretraction automatically with the closure of the cap onto the nozzle, as by interengaging thread means 45-46 Vcarriedbythe cap` and nozzle; or, brush assembly retraction mayb'e effected by the user merely pressing down on the container or body 12 as when he desires to obltaiira furthercharge of liquid to dow through the orifice 30 onto the brush 13. Prior art devices have employed coiled springs to provide the desired resilient bias.

According to our invention, however, the spring 40 is not cylindrical throughout its full length, as is known in the prior art, but rather is provided with larger diameter turns near its rearward end, as is illustrated by the outwardly tapering conical spring configuration indicated by reference numeral 48. The enlarged turns 48 of the spring 40 provide several advantages over springs heretofore used in devices of this type. First, since they extend outwardly to the diameter of the nozzle bore, all liquid to be dispensed must pass between the turns of the spring, thereby obtaining a filter of the fluid to strain out any solids from being dispensed. It should be here noted that the forward turns 49 are fairly snug on plunger 34 to prevent any material solids from escaping into the nozzle chamber past the spring. A further advantage is obtained because of the fact that the turns are of larger diameter than the turns 49 of the spring forwardly thereof, in that the rearward turns 48 become fully compressed as indicated in Figure 2 prior to full compression of the smaller diameter turns at the forward portion of the spring. This provides an effective liquid seal effected by the closely adjacent or touching larger diameter turns when compressed, stopping the flow through the spring turns, with the unused compressibility of those forward turns 49 providing substantial manufacturing tolerances for the spring. Another advantage provided by the enlarged spring portion 48 is that the largest end co-il or several of those coils of its broad base are seated snugly in thev nozzle bore 54. This centers the spring in the bore and urges the plunger 34 generally in the desired central path of the nozzle bore. Thereby, the forward spring turns 49 which are fairly snug on the plunger 34 guide the plunger as those forward turns 49 are guided by the broad rear turns 48. An additional advantage provided by the enlarged turns 48 at the rear of the spring 4f) is that it permits the spring to be bottomed against an abutment or springretaining means spaced a substantial distance radially of the plunger 34 and providing substantial clearance thereabout, thereby to accommodate fairly unrestricted liquid flow past the retaining means upon which the spring is bottomed. The retaining means shown comprises a retainer ring 50 whose inner diameter 52 it should be noted is substantially larger than the diameter of the plunger 34. The good fluid inter-flow characteristic thereby effected between the chamber defined by the body 12 and the chamber within the nozzle bore 32 permits and accommodates a thorough mixture of the entire contents of the applicator device, permitting agitation i and mixing of the complete contents of the applicator rather than merely the contents contained within the nozzle bore 32. This advantage is particularly desirable where the liquid to be dispensed is a paint or the like which must match exactly with the color of the surface to which the dispensed liquid is to be applied, as in automobile finish touch-up work and the like. An agitator or mixer in the form of an annular weight W is slidably disposed of in the body 12 to reciprocate in the contents of the container to uniformly mix the contents when the container is shaken. The plunger or stem 34 can project freely into the hole of the annular weight W and the weight can bottom on the nozzle while uid can flow freely through the weight.

To accommodate the larger diameter rear portion 48 of the spring 40, the rear portion S4 of the nozzle bore f4 is shown as likewise enlarged. The retainer ring 50 is held at the rear end of the nozzle bore portion 54 as by 'being press fitted into an annular recess 56 provided in the nozzle.

Means such as the three annularly spaced anges or ribs 64 extend longitudinally within the bore 32 of the nozzle 14, desirably from the bore rib 42 adjacent the tip 2S of the nozzle and continuing rearwardly a signifi- Desirably those ribs 64 are provided integrally with the nozzle. The ribs 64 offer distinct advantages not provided in prior constructions. First, by slidably receiving the head 36 of the plunger 34, they effect a guiding of the forward end of the plunger within the nozzle bore 32. A further important advantage afforded by the ribs 64 is that of providing for a more uniform distribution of the dispensed uid circumferentially around the brush 18. This is accomplished by their effecting a circumferential guide or baffle of material at spaced points within the nozzle bore 42 adjacent the oritice 3d. This provides that even though the device is held by the operator in a usual non-vertical `disposition when in use, liquid will be directed by the guide ribs 64 at portions circumferentially about the orifice 30 rather than merely along that portion which is lowest as held by the operator. Another advantage of the guide ribs 64 is that it is possible to effect the guiding of the plunger head 36 without the necessity of guide lugs or the like extending outwardly from the plunger head. Thus the guide ribs 64 provide the desired plunger-guiding characteristic without the disadvantage sometimes resulting from radially extending abutment lugs carried on the plunger head in prior constructions.

Figure 6 illustrates a modified embodiment wherein the applicator 10a has an elongated hollow nozzle 14a provided with longitudinally extending guide ribs 64a, and a plunger 34a is adapted for reciprocation within the nozzle 14a, much like the embodiment first described, with corresponding parts correspondingly numbered.

In Figure 6, however, the guide ribs 64a effectuate a guide of the plunger 34a longitudinally therealong through the spring 40a. To this end, the diameter of the plunger 34a, and the diameter and wire size of the spring 40a, and the clearance diameter within the guide ribs 64a are all coordinated to provide the desired guide of plunger 34a through the spring 40a. Thus the spring 40a is shown as fairly snugly receiving the plunger stem 34a, and the ribs 64a fairly snugly receiving the spring 40a, the tit of each providing the desired relative sliding engagement with at least operating clearance therebetween.

In this Figure 6 embodiment, the spring may be, and desirably is, of constant diameter, and it is bottomed between the plunger head 36a and a snap retainer ring 50a fitted into notches 56a provided in the guide ribs 64a.

Thus it will be seen from the foregoing description of our invention according to a preferred embodiment, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, that a fountain applicator or fountain brush constructed according to our invention provides many desired advantages and characteristics, and accomplishes its intended objects including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention as described.

`It will be understood that modifications and variations cant distance.

l may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a fountain brush, a liquid dispensing container having a body for containing a supply of liquid and having a hollow nozzle projecting from said body, said hollow nozzle having a central bore with a dispensing orifice at the forward end, a dispensing brush assembly slidable in said nozzle and including an elongated plunger ernbodying a rearwardly extending stem and. an applicator brush means carried by the forward end thereof, the forward end of said plunger forming a valve for said orifice, said brush means adapted to fit freely through the orifice and project beyond the end of the nozzle, said brush assembly adapted to be depressed upon application of end load thereon to open the valve and receive fluid from the container, a plurality of ribs arranged longitudinally upon the internal annular surface ofthe nozzle and extending to the area adjacent said orifice, said ribs forming a plurality of passageways for guiding liquid to said orifice, aspring retainer having a central bore carried by therear 'asians-1 end o f said nozzlepa coil vspring disposed-about the `stern of said plunger with its side portions adjacent said ribs,

saidrspring having one end `thereof inxcontact with said plunger and the other endthereof in contact with said ybore-of said nozzle being substantiallylarger than the diameter of said plunger stem to accommodate a ggen- `erally -free interliow of liquid within said nozzle about said brush assembly, and V'said ribs `forming guide rib means for guiding the forward end -oflsaid springand ysaid-plunger in the bore of said'nozzle, the forward end of'said spring having forward turns of a `diameter small enough to be received snugly by -said guide rib means and having'enlarged rearward turns of a diameter adapted to seatfonlsaid spring retainer, whereby all liquid to be dispensed must pass through the turns of saidspring to said passageways between said ribs for passage to said orifice.

2. In a fountain brush, a-liquid dispensing container having a body for containing a supply of liquid` and having a nozzle projecting from the forward end `of the body, said nozzle having a central bore with a dispensing orifice at the forward end thereof, a dispensing brush assembly slidable in the `bore of said nozzle, said brush assembly including an elongated plunger embodying a rearwardly extending sternand auf-applicator brush means-carried in 'a bore in the-forward end thereof,=the forwardend of said plungerforming a valve-for *said orice, a `spring retainer`ring`having a central bore carried bylsaid nozzle "atfthe `rear end thereof, the stem of'said plungenextend- `ing throughthe central bore ofsaid Spring retainerhring,

a Aconical coil spring disposed about the stern of said plunger withits smaller end in contact -with said` plunger and its larger end in contact with said spring retainer ring, said brush means adaptedto `fit freely through the orifice and project beyond the forward end of said nozzle, said brush assembly adapted to be depressedupon application of end load thereon to open the valve and receive fluid from the container, a plurality of ribs arranged longitudinally upon the internal annular surface of the nozzle and extending to the area adjacent said orifice, said ribs forming a plurality of passageways for guiding liquid to said orifice, said ribs forming guide rib means for guiding the forward end of said spring and said plunger in the bore of said nozzle, said spring adapted to bias said plunger as a valve in a forward extended position with respect to said orifice, and the bore of said spring retainer and the bore of said nozzle being substantially greater than the diameter of said plunger stern to accommodate a general free flow of liquid within said nozzle about said brush assembly.

3. In a fountain brush, a liquid dispensing container having a body for containing a supply of liquid and having a nozzle projecting from the forward end of the body, rsaid nozzle having a central bore with a dispensing orifice at the forward end thereof, a dispensing brush assembly slidable in the bore of said nozzle, said brush assembly including an elongated plunger embodying a rearwardly extending stem and an applicator brush means carried in a bore in the forward end thereof, the forward end of said plunger forming a valve for said orifice, a spring retainer ring having a central bore carried by said nozzle at the rear end thereof, the stem of said plunger extending through the central bore of said spring retainer ring, a conical coil spring disposed about the stem of said plunger with its smaller end in contact with said plunger and its larger end in contact with said spring retainer ring, said brush means adapted to fit freely through the orifice and project beyond the forward end of said nozzle, said brush assembly adapted to be depressed upon application of end load thereon to open the valve and receive fiuid from the container, a plurality of ribs arranged longitudinally upon the internal annular surface of the nozzle and extending to the area adjacent fsaidorifice, saidribsiforrning afplurality of passageways `for fguldmg liquid tovsaidorifice,'-saidfribs forming'gui'de ribmeansfor'guidingwtherforward Lend of said springand saidplunger inthe borerof said nozzle, said spring vadapted to bias said plunger fas Javalve in a `forward fextended position with respect` to "'saidf orifice, and the lforward end of'saidspringhaving forwardturns of a` diameter small enough to be received snugly by said guide rib means-and having enlarged reawardturns of a diameter `adapted to seat on said spring retainenwhereby all liquid toi-be ydispensed must pass between the turns ofssaid spring to said passageways betweenthe ribs for passage to saidorifice.

-4. `In a fountain brush, a `liquid dispensing container having a bodyforcontaining-a supply of liquid and havingaV nozzle projecting fromthe forward end' of lthebody, said nozzle having'acentral bore with a dispensing orifice at the forward end thereof, a dispensing ybrush assembly slidable `in fthe bore of said-nozzle, said brush assembly including an yelongated plunger yembodying a rearwardly extending stem-andan applicator brushmeans `carried ina` bore inthe forward-endthereof,:the forward Send of said plunger forming a valve for said orifice, a spring-retainer ring'having-a `central bore carried by said nozzle at the rear end thereof,xthe stem of said ,plunger extending through the `central bore .of said spring retainer ring, a coil spring disposed about the stem `of said `plunger with-one end in contact with vsaid plunger andthe oppositeenddn Contact with said spring retainer ring, said-brush means adapted tofit-freely through the orifice and project `beyond the forward end of said nozzle,

said brush assembly adaptedto be depressed upon application ofend load thereon to-openthe valve and Vreceive fluid from the .containenaplurality of'ribs arranged longitudinally upon the internal annular surface Vof the noz- 'zle 'and extending tothe 'area adjacent said orifice, said ribslforming a plurality of ar'cuatepassageways for guiding `li`quid Ato said orifice, said ribs forming guide "rib means for guiding the 'forward `end of said spring and said plunger in the bore of said nozzle, said spring adapted to bias said plunger as a valve in a forward extended position with respect to said orifice, and the bore of said spring retainer ring and the bore of said nozzle being substantially greater than the diameter of said plunger stem to accommodate a general free flow of liquid within said nozzle about said brush assembly.

5. In a fountain brush, a container having a body for containing a supply of liquid and having a hollow nozzle projecting from said body, said nozzle having a substantially cylindrical bore tapered outwardly at the rear end thereof and having a dispensing orifice at the forward end thereof, a dispensing brush assembly slidable within said nozzle and including an elongated plunger, said plunger including a rearwardly extending stem and an applicator brush means carried by the forward end thereof, the forward end of said plunger forming a valve for said orifice, a spring retainer ring having a central bore carried at the rear of said nozzle, the stem of said plunger extending through the bore of said spring retainer ring, a `substantially conical coil spring disposed about the stem of said plunger and having one end thereof engaging said plunger and the other end contacting said retainer ring to 'bias said dispensing brush assembly in a forwardly extended position with respect to said orifice, -said spring having adjacent said retainer ring turns of a larger diameter than turns of said spring more forwardly thereof to provide a broad spring base, and to snugly contact the nozzle bore at the rear end thereof, the said more forwardly turns of said spring adapted to fairly snugly receive said plunger stem to effect a centering action upon said plunger during its sliding movement toward extended position of said dispenser brush assembly, said brush means adapted to fit freely through the orifice and project beyond the end of said nozzle, said brush assembly adapted to be depressed upon application of end load thereon to open the plunger valve for receiving fluid from the container, a plurality of guide rib means formed on the annular wall of said nozzle forming longi- .tudinal guide means for the forward portion of said spring the turns of said spring to said orifice.

6. In a fountain brush, a liquid dispensing container having a body for containing a supply of liquid and having a nozzle with an elongated side Wall projecting from the forward end `of the body, a closure cap having a deep skirt slidably embracing the elongated side wall of said nozzle, said nozzle having a central bore with a dispensing orifice at the forward end thereof, a dispensing brush assembly slidable in the bore of said nozzle, said brush assembly including an elongated plunger embodying a rearwardly extending stem and an applicator brush means carried in a bore in the forward end thereof, the forward end of said plunger forming a valve for said orifice, a spring retainer ring having a central bore carried by said nozzle at the rear end thereof, the stem of said plunger extending through the central bore of said spring retainer ring, a conical coil spring disposed about the stem of said plunger with its smaller end in contact with said plunger and its larger end in contact with said spring retainer ring, said brush means adapted to fit freely through the orifice and project beyond the forward end of said. nozzle, said brush assembly adapted to be depressed upon application of end load thereon to open the valve and receive fluid from the container, a plurality of ribs arranged longitudinally upon the internal annular surface of the nozzle and extending to the area adjacent said orifice, said ribs forming a plurality of passageways for guiding lliquid to said orifice, said ribs forming guide rib means for guiding the forward end of said spring and said plunger in the bore of said nozzle,

said spring adapted to bias said plunger as a valve in a forward extended position with respect to said orifice, the bore of said spring retainer ring and the bore of said nozzle being substantially greater than the diameter of said plunger stem to accommodate a general free ow of liquid within said nozzle about said brush assembly, and said spring providing a yielding means to permit a retraction of the brush assembly to a rearward retracted position effected by a pin arranged in the closed end of said closure cap `when applied to the nozzle, said cap having its deep skirt slidably embracing the side Wall of the nozzle; and its end wall overlying the orifice and in sealed relation therewith, said pin being an elongated thin pin in the cap and extending from the end Wall of the cap along the central axis and terminating inside the cap, said deep skirt of the cap being longer than the projected length of the brush means sufficiently for engaging the side walls of the nozzle to longitudinally align the pin with the plunger valve, and said pin being sufficiently long to open the plunger valve and to hold the brush in advance of the deep skirt of the cap and retracted into the contents of the nozzle.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 596,951 Wiehl Jan. 4, 1898 1,253,032 Hardin Ian. 8, 1918 1,317,562 Dunbar Sept. 30, 1919 1,992,607 De Mille Feb. 26, 1935 2,029,152 Bonkowski Jan. 28, 1936 2,250,444 Brigham July 29, 1941 2,299,627 Hunter et al. Oct. 20, 1942 2,643,409 Hempel June 30, 1953 2,686,925 Hempel Aug. 24, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 280,036 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1952 

